Display cover device



April 24, 1951 w. c. MILBRANDT DISPLAY COVER DEVICE Filed June 4, 1949 Wmuncs C. Mme/2,4007- (Ittorneg Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display cover devices of the type comprising a body frame adapted to fit about the open side of a caddy or box in which bulk foodstuffs, such as bakery goods and the like, are on display, and a cover or lid connected thereto by means of a hinging arrangement for ready opening and closing movement, said cover or lid having a transparent panel incorporated therein. More particularly, the present invention is concerned with simple but effective improvements in the design, construction and fabrication of such display cover devices.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of a simplified hinging construction which enables the cover or lid to be assembled instantly in operative position with the body frame member of the display device.

Another object resides in the incorporation of a novel reinforcing and rigidifying means in the hinging construction of such .display cover devices to permit the practical employment of inexpensive elastic materials for economical fabrication of such devices on a mass production scale.

A further object lies in the provision of a simple retaining means for the removable transparent panel in the cover or lid, without the use of added parts.

Still a further object is generally to improve this class of devices so as to increase their utility, durability and efiiciency through the employment of lightweight, deformable but elastic material, and render them more attractive in appearance, easy to assemble and most practical from a maintenance standpoint.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description and the accompanying drawing illustration of a preferred embodiment, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the display cover device embodying the present invention in its assembled position over the open top of a receptacle for bulk foodstuffs and the like;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the device, still assembled with the foodstuff receptacle, with portions of the device being broken away and shown in dotted lines for sake of clarity;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation, taken from the left side of Fig. 2, showing a step in the hinging assembly of the cover or lid with the body of the device;

Fig. 4 is a broken sectional view, taken substantially along lines 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, taken along lines 5-5 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is bottom exploded view in perspective of the cover or lid member illustrating particularly the means for rigidifying the weakened, deformable member.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the display cover device, generally designated by the numeral l0, comprises two main parts, namely a bod frame member II and a cover or lid member [2, the latter having a removable transparent window 13. These separate parts may be molded, stamped or otherwise suitably formed from a resilient resin or plastic material such as polystyrene, methyl methacrylate, acetate, to mention a few of the available resins or plastics that are characteristically resilient (thus substantially non-breakable) light yet durable, rust-proof, relatively inexpensive, easily fabricated on a mass production basis and obtainable in a variety of pleasing colors ranging from white through pastel shades. The removable window pane [3 may also be formed of a transparent plastic or glass, according to the dictates of commercial practice.

The body frame I I comprises depending flanges I5, four in number in the case of the substantially rectangular embodiment illustrated, which are adapted to closely fit the walls of a container or receptacle l4 about the open side thereof. From these flanges l5 the body extends inwardly at IE to provide substantially flat, relatively narrow marginal surfaces serving to limit the move- "ment of the body upon the receptacle, and also provide surfaces against which the cover or lid 82 rests. As best seen in Figs. 3 and 4, these narrow, marginal surfaces [6 terminate in a continuous raised rib or bead l'l defining an opening through which access might be had to the articles in the container.

Rising from one marginal surface, or wall [8 of the body frame I l, and integrally formed therewith, is a pair of spaced upstanding lugs 20, the adjacent faces of which are colinearly recessed as at 2i, as best shown in Fig. 5. These lugs form part of the hinging connection for the cover or lid member, as will be fully explained hereinafter.

The separate cover or lid member I2 is similar in its construction to the body frame and comprises depending flanges 25, of shorter length than the corresponding flanges [5 of the body frame, and so spaced that they will be positioned outside the raised rib of the body frame II, in close proximity thereto, with their bottom edges 26 resting on the narrow fiat surfaces I6, when the cover or lid is in place on the body frame. Thus, the cover or lid is preferably shaped along the same proportions as the body frame member, only of shallower depth and width.

From the flanges 25, the cover extends inwardly at 2! to provide a relatively narrow, flat marginal surface defining a frame-like opening for the window insert l3. On one of these flat marginal surfaces 27 may be provided either a raised or depressed portion 28, as the case may be, extending substantially along the length thereof, serving as a frame for any desired indicia (not shown) to identify by name, price, etc. or otherwise advertise the goods displayed.

Along one marginal surface of the cover, hereinafter identified as the hinging surface or edge 29, is provided a pair of spaced pintles 30, having their respective ends 3| projecting som what beyond the planes of the respective adjacent flanges 25, and their respective inner ends 32 merging in somewhat streamlined fashion with the hinging flange 29, as best seen in Fig. 2. The distance between the outer ends 3| of the pintles is normally sufliciently greater than the space between the inner recessed faces 2| of the lugs so that the pintle ends will extend slightly into the respective recesses and be retained therein in freely swinging, pivotal relation when the hingin connection is made between the cover and body members, as will be presently explained.

The elastic, deformable characteristic of the plastic material selected for the formation of the separate members H and i2 is of utmost importance in simplifying the hinging construction of the device, in accordance with the present invention. To this end, the hinging margin or flange 2c of the cover is cut out or channelled, as at 35, to substantially weaken the hinging flange and render it readily deformable to foreshorten same under hand compression applied adjacent the pintles.

Adapted to be detachably mounted wtihin the channelled portion 35 is a substantially L-shaped bar 36, preferably formed of the same plastic material as the cover soas to be practically indistinguishable from the latter. As best seen in the bottom side exploded View of Fig. 6, this bar 36 comprises a plane surface 31 forming a lip projecting laterally beyond an under-cut portion 38,

and a leg 39 formed substantially at right angles thereto. A pair of internally threaded, spaced holes #38 are provided through the portions 31 and 38 for the reception of threaded screw fasteners, such as the set screws 42. Correspondingly placed and drilled holes 4| are provided in the flat marginal surface 2'! of the cover that extends inwardly from the hinging flange 29.

The hinging connection is produced between the cover I2 and the body frame II by grasping the weakened, deformable cover adjacent the pintles along the hinging flange thereof and applying slight compression sufficient to bow the member, thus momentarily foreshortening the length between the outer pintle ends (see'Fig. 3), and permit their reception within the respective recessed lugs of the frame. Releasing the compression thereafter, of course, permits the resilient hinging flange to spring back instantly to its normal extended length and produce the desired extension of the pintle ends into the lug recesses with a resultant free swinging relation therebetween. Then, the bar 36 is positioned within the channelled portion 35, with the leg 36 merging with the hinging flange 29 to practically form a continuation thereof, and is fastened in 4 place simply by inserting the two screws through the aligned holes 40 and 4|, and turning the screws down tightly.

Simultaneously with the positioning of the bar, as above described, the window insert [3 is assembled with the lid by inserting one edge thereof between the flat marginal surface 21 and the undercut lip 38 of the bar, while the opposite edge of the insert is similarly held by a short retaining bar 5t. As in the case of the bar 36, the bar 5e has an undercut portion forming a lip 5| and is located in alignment with the bar 36, but on the opposite side of the cover adjacent the opening flange thereof. The bar 50 is preferably formed as an integral part of the cover member i2.

When the bar 36 is thus inserted and fastened within the channelling of the cover hinging flange, it serves to rigidify this weakened, elastic but deformable member to such an extent that accidental disassembly of the hinged members cannot take place. Such disassembly might otherwise occur by an accidental deformation of the cover hinging flange resulting in a springing out of the pintles from the recessed lugs containing same, either by compressive forces exerted on the hinging flange by the sheer weight of the cover in its fully open position or by the variable shifting of the weight and consequent stress on the hinges produced during careless opening and closing movement of the cover.

By thus incorporating a rigidifyirig means for the flexible cover or lid, which also functions as a window insert retaining and releasing means, as an essential feature of the present invention, it is now possible to utilize light, relatively inexpensive, elastic materials in the formation of display cover devices; to produce them on a low cost mass production basis; to assemble the seprate parts speedily and efficiently with the aid of a Very minimum of parts; and yet obtain devices of this class which are easy to maintain and will readily endure the rough, careless handling to which ordinarily they are subjected in the display and sale of bulk foodstuffs.

As an aid in opening the cover or lid, a finger notch or lip 8% may be incorporated with the opening flange of the cover.

In assembling the cover device with the open side of a carton or container in which bulk foodstuffs are on display, the elastic depending flanges id of the body ii are adapted to be spreadably forced down along the walls of the container for a somewhat flexible, close fit therewith. An inwardly projecting bead lfi may be provided along the lower end of the flanges ill, preferably along at least two opposite portions thereof which correspond to the hinging and opening sides of the device to produce a frictional hold on the somewhat yielding, frangible sidewalls of. the container, usually formed of corrugated cardboard.

I claim:

1. A display device for attachment to a display container, said device comprising separate body frame and cover members each having depending marginal flanges formed of elastic material, means forming a hinged, freely swingable connection between said members comprising a set of spaced pintles on one of said members mating with a set of spaced pintle receiving lugs on the other of said members, the spacing between one of said sets being normally greater than the spacing between the other of said sets, said cover being weakened along the hinging marginal flange thereef to permit temporary dis tortion under compression whereby assembly or disassembly of said hinging connection may be accomplished, and releasable means cooperative with the weakened portion of said cover to rigidify same for maintaining mating assembly between said hingably connected members during the opening and closing operation of said cover.

2. A display device for attachment to a display container, said device comprising separate body frame and cover members each having depending marginal flanges formed of elastic material, means forming a hinged, freely swingable connection between said members comprising pintles on one of said members mating with pintle receiving lugs on the other of said members, said cover having its hinging marginal flange disrupted centrally therealong to permit temporary distortion under compression whereby assembly or disassembly of said hinging connection may be accomplished, and a releasable rigidifying bar assembled within said disrupted flange to prevent accidental distortion of same and consequent disassembly of the hingably connected members during the opening and closing operation of said cover.

3. A display device for attachment to a display container, said device comprising separate body frame and cover members each having depending marginal flanges formed of elastic material, said cover having a removable window pane, means forming a hinged, freely swingable connection between said members comprising pintles on one of said members mating with pintle receiving lugs on the other of said members, said cover having its hinging marginal REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,694,024 Taylor Dec. 4, 1928 1,766,787 Kendrick June 24, 1930 2,359,621 Christensen Oct. 3, 1944 

